About Us

ItaliaKids is the premier resource for families traveling to or living in Italy. We have compiled the best information for you…

Our Team

Shannon Kenny, Founder

ItaliaKids was established by writer and educator Shannon Kenny in April 2008 to provide a centralized, informational online resource for international families traveling to or living in Italy. As a writer and editor specializing in Europe and global issues and director of Arte al Sole, an educational summer program for international children in Tuscany, Shannon found that parents abroad were increasingly contacting her for tips on finding the networks of information and friendships so essential to daily family life. A busy mother herself, she set out to create a go-to online publication that would provide parents and kids with all the resources they need, all in one place! Shannon is also the founding partner of the Italy and Europe travel planning resource Elaia Travel.

Shannon spent summers in Forte de Marmi and the Lucca area for many years and lived in Florence and Rome. She now divides her time each year between Italy and California. In 2017, Shannon co-founded Prontopia, an app that pairs travelers with locals for on-demand assistance with travel solutions, making your trip stress free and full of meaningful connections.

Marion Freel, Associate Editor

Marion Freel studied Anthropology and the History of Art and Architecture at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and has since pursued her aspirations to engage with all levels of visual aspects of design, particularly when found in seemingly ordinary, yet ultimately profound, places. Marion spends her summers in Italy as an Arte al Sole teacher and is now in her eighth year teaching at the camp. She loves traveling to the lesser known areas of Italy where you truly have to take on the pace and lifestyle of the locals. In addition to her work at ItaliaKids and teaching at Arte al Sole, Marion recently completed her teacher training after practicing yoga for over ten years; to her “teaching others is an important aspect of growing as a student and a person.”

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